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Topic: Crowds at the entrance reducer? (Read 3242 times)

Last week we placed the mouse-guard/entrance reducer on the hive, since we've had several frosts and the weather has been cooling off. But nice weather today, in the middle 70s got them out foraging again. Now there seems to be a bit of a traffic jam at the entrance.

I'm just wondering if this is normal, or if we put the reducer on too soon?

You're three feet off the ground. You don't need mousegaurds. You need stilts.

Yes it seems like we need a ladder when we have two or three supers on top of that stack. I think someone teases me everytime I show a picture. But you should see how high the mice can jump and how they skinny up a pole if motivated. I just didn't want to take any chances.

Every time I put on something at the entrance - robber screen, entrance reducer - it takes the bees a while to adjust to the fact that it's less easy to get into the hive - They always bunch up around whatever entrance there is for several days until they get used to it and then all goes back to normal.

After all, with no entrance reduction, they can come and go at any point in the front of the hive. Suddenly all of them have to come in a one inch door - humans queue up with small entrances as well! At the huge Phillips Arena, we see masses of people crowding as they approach the one entry gate where only one person at a time can go into the Arena.

Linda T in Atlanta where my bees are often gathered enmasse in front of the entrance

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http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"You never can tell with bees" - Winnie the Pooh

When using entrance reduces, especially at the smallest setting, it is important to recognize the it is designed to prohibit unlimited access and prevent incursions of mice etc. When the weather gets warm enough for the bees to do a little house cleaning there will always be a traffic jam at the reduced entrance. The trade of is better hive security over all. It's not always possible to adjust the entrance size with each change of weather.

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Life is a school. What have you learned? :brian: The greatest danger to our society is apathy, vote in every election!

I have installed a top-entrance, but so far I've only seen a few using it on warm days. We also had our first big snow and the lower entrance was burried for about a day and a half.

Thanks for all the guidance. I think it was either:A: They were still getting used to the new entrance or B: They were just out for some fresh air.

The picture was taken in early evening on a warm day just after installing it. This was the time of day that they normally come rushing back home. I haven't seen any such traffic jams since, just a more orderly process.

Of interest in using top entrances: the bees prefer it and will switch very rapidly during high activity. Going to a top entrance opens the lower entrance as a backdoor, and often unguarded, entrance for mice, SHB, Wax Moths, etc. The lower entrance if left open can cause excessive ventilation during winter which can result in chilled bees.

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Life is a school. What have you learned? :brian: The greatest danger to our society is apathy, vote in every election!